She was the lady behind the success of her husband. As
private secretary to the then Minister of Finance and Planning
(1977-1989), she was, apart from many other things, responsible for
providing jobs to many a youth in the south in general and Devinuwara in
particular.

It is said that those who were provided with jobs made
it so good that they moved into the city, built houses, shifted their
bases and had never gone back, even periodically, to at least exercise
their franchise at elections.

Her husband, Ronnie De Mel is considered to be the best
Finance Minister of post-Independence Sri Lanka and held that portfolio
for a record 11 years.

In late 1993, Mallika was in the thick of DUNF politics.
That year was a watershed in Sri Lankan politics.

The second Executive President of the UNP had been
installed in power in 1989 in the thick of chaos created by the JVP.
This was after a period of 12 years. The first Executive President, J.
R. Jayewardene held office from 1978 to 1989, after the constitution was
amended in 1978.

During the tenure of President Ranasinghe Premadasa
things turned sour, as 10 to 11 MPs led by Lalith Athulathmudali, while
being in the party and cabinet initiated an impeachment motion against
President Premadasa. They were expelled from the party, made to resign
from cabinet and had to seek refuge in the Supreme Court under Article
99 13(a) of the Constitution. They launched an islandwide campaign
against the so-called dictatorial policies of the President and took the
issues to the country and public at large.

The present President, Mahinda Rajapaksa launched his
opposition in the form of the now famous ‘Pada Yatra’, a massive rally
traversing from Colombo all the way down to the deep south. Chandrika
Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, who had just returned to the island after many
years abroad, having fled the country after her husband’s assassination,
also joined in the rally, almost by force.

Mallika was in the thick DUNF activities. She joined
hands with Lalith A, Gamini D and Dr. Sarath Amunugama, a new entrant to
politics. Dr. Amunugama was a respected public servant who was in the
last batch of Civil Servants to be recruited in 1962. Dr. Sarath
Amunugama should get the credit for settling the leadership tussle in
the DUNF between Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake. It was he
who suggested the rotation of leadership with Lalith getting the ‘first
innings’, on the eve of Provincial Council elections.

Mallika participated in all important rallies and
meetings island wide and was present at the official inauguration of the
DUNF in Anuradhapura.

The government panicked and threw a massive police
cordon round the Ruvanveliseya Stupa, the venue of the meeting, making
it out of bounds for thousands of supporters of the new party, who had
come down from all parts of the country.

The DUNF had to face a legal battle to gain recognition
as a registered political party. The party was represented by the late
Lakshman Kadirgamar, while K. N. Choksy appeared for the UNP before the
Commissioner of Elections.

Whoever writes about the history of the DUNF, which
served as a springboard for many a successful politician, should devote
a few pages to Mallika. She was ably deputising for her husband, who was
forced to be out of the island due to the hostile attitude of the
government.

In fact, during a brief appearance in Sri Lanka, Ronnie
De Mel barely escaped being hurt during a shooting incident in
Bulathsinghala, which was supposed to have been instigated by the
government.

She was MP for Devinuwara from 2001 to 2003 and was
offered a second term, which she would have easily won, as she won the
first election with the highest number of preferential votes in the
Matara district. She declined the offer due to health reasons.

Politics was just one avenue for her to help the poor

Being a daughter of Sir Leo Fernando, a native of
Panadura and a former MP of Buttala and a bus magnate, who was one of
the richest persons in Sri Lanka in the 20th Century, she inherited a
great deal of wealth. It was this wealth that she used to fund many a
charitable cause and institutions in Kalutara and Panadura.

The writer was fortunate to be associated with her as
Director of ‘Dakshina Lanka Sahana Padanama’ of which she was the
Chairman. The ‘Padanama’ ran many a training institute in handicrafts,
cloth making and a host of other activities, which enabled many a
trainee to find employment. She was the benefactor of many a temple in
Kalutara and Matara. She treated like a brother and wanted me to be more
proactive and take to active politics.

Generous to a fault, she was warm-hearted and lit up the
lives of many a person.

She was very much a family person, always looking after
the needs of her husband (she confessed to me that she should predecease
him) and extremely fond of her three daughters Sunalini, Tara and Renuka.

Despite her busy schedule - a politician, wife of a
politician and an indefatigable social worker - she found time to spend
a holiday with two of her daughters domiciled abroad, Sunalini in the UK
and Tara in America, every year.

Good night Sweet Princess, the flights of Angels will
sing thee to rest. (Hamlet - Shakespeare)

Her journey in Sansara will be short and may she attain
the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.